CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK Teacher of Chemistry
BOLD BEGINNINGS START HERE
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD Thank you for your interest in LEH and in joining our team. At LEH, we combine ambition with joy to create something extraordinary. We want our pupils – and our staff – to reach for the highest goals in a happy and supportive environment. With almost a thousand pupils from Year 3 to Year 13, our girls are some of the most academically able in the UK. We have a moral imperative to help them realise their potential and to provide an education that gives them the confidence to feel brave and undaunted about their future achievements and impact. Our strategy, Facing the Future Undaunted, captures what we stand for: brave learning, imaginative thinking, and joyful discovery. We are one of the UK’s leading independent girls’ schools, and we are proud that our pupils consistently achieve some of the best results in the country – but what matters most is that they leave us feeling fulfilled, confident, compassionate, and ready to take on the world. We are looking for colleagues who share our excitement, our high expectations, our ambition and our sense of fun. If that resonates with you, we would love to hear from you. Best wishes Rowena Cole Head
ABOUT LEH ABOUT LEH
LEH is one of the UK’s leading independent schools, providing highly capable girls with a distinctive education that prepares them to take their place at the table, in the room and in the world, in their chosen sphere. As a selective independent school for girls aged 7 to 18, we believe that academic ambition and personal happiness are not mutually exclusive. In our classrooms, corridors, and across our 24 acres of playing fields, you’ll find a culture of relaxed excellence; a place where pupils are encouraged to think deeply, question boldly, and engage in spirited, respectful debate. Here, challenge is not something to be feared but embraced – because it comes with the right support. Our teaching goes beyond the curriculum, nurturing curiosity, independence, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. We don’t just teach girls what to think, but how to think – equipping them with the critical thinking skills and intellectual confidence to thrive at school and far beyond. LEH was founded more than 300 years ago. Today, we are proud to be a school like no other with a rich history and a forward-focused vision.
OUR VISION
LEH provides girls with a distinctive education that prepares them to take their place at the table, in the room and in the world, in their chosen sphere.
OUR MISSION
LEH fosters a culture that supports every pupil to achieve excellence and success, both shared and individual, to be fulfilled, and to have significant impact in every way she chooses.
OUR VALUES •
We choose to succeed.
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We rise to challenges.
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We lift those around us.
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We inspire trust.
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We encourage personal agency.
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We embrace joy and laughter.
OUR STRATEGY
In an external environment as changeable and unpredictable as ours, knowing the strength, capability and character of our pupils, their ambitions for the future and the impact we know they will have in the years to come, is what fuels us with much-needed hope and optimism. This is what sits at the core of LEH’s strategy: Facing the Future Undaunted. It’s a declaration of our aims and ambition for LEH and for every pupil, and it sets out our collective goals as a school community over the next few years. Shaped with the involvement of our pupils, parents, staff, alumnae and governors, our strategy embodies all that we stand for as a school for highly capable girls. Our four core strategic objectives are what guide the work of everyone at LEH:
1. A Bold Voice for Girls’ Education
We will push forward the boundaries of educational knowledge, informed by research that focuses on delivering the best possible education for girls.
2. Academic Excellence in Every Area
We will deliver consistent academic excellence and provide an outstanding educational experience for bright girls, offering stretch and challenge in a context of kindness and care.
3. A Culture of Success for All
We will enable a culture of success for all, where everyone is expected to deliver their best for themselves and for each other.
4. A One-School Approach
We will harness the strength of being one school, delivering an outstanding joined-up education.
WHY WORK AT LEH?
Working at LEH means being part of something extraordinary.
• Exceptional Pupils: Our girls are highly
• Professional Growth: We invest in our
• Academic Excellence: LEH consistently
• E xceptional Facilities: From state-of-the-
capable, curious, spirited, and full of potential. They are a joy to teach and inspire us daily with their enthusiasm, kindness, and determination.
ranks among the top schools in the UK, with pupils achieving outstanding results and progressing to leading universities around the world.
• Innovation and Ambition: We don’t stand still. Our teaching and learning is forwardlooking, creative, and research informed. You’ll have the freedom to innovate – and the support to make it a success.
• A Community that Celebrates Joy
and Laughter: LEH is alive with energy.
Whether it’s on the sports field, in the theatre, the music studio, or in the lab, our pupils throw themselves into school life with passion and fun and we’re proud that they perform at the highest levels.
people. From leadership opportunities to excellent professional development, we want you to thrive here just as much as our pupils do.
art science labs to a professional theatre and outstanding sports complex, you’ll have the tools and spaces to bring learning to life, all set in 24 acres of green fields. We also have parking and bike racks on site for all staff.
• Reward and Recognition: Competitive
salary and benefits, complimentary tickets to outstanding drama and music productions, free lunch, and access to our superb facilities are just the start.
LEH is a place where careers are enriched, where talent is celebrated, and where joy is part of every day.
ABOUT LEH SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
All staff working at LEH will have some contact with children and will therefore be in regulated activity. Staff with teaching duties will be responsible for the pupils that they teach and may also have additional specific pastoral or other responsibilities for other pupils they do not teach. In addition, all staff will regularly interact with pupils who may seek assistance or otherwise interact with them whilst moving around LEH. In all cases, the post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the pupils is to adhere to and ensure compliance with LEH’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and LEH is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children. LEH is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES At LEH, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and the importance of diversity to enrich these transformations. We are committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive environment for all that celebrates the unique identities, abilities, and aspirations of each member of our school community.
ABOUT LEH ABOUT THE SENIOR SCHOOL
At LEH, we believe that academic ambition and personal happiness go hand in hand. Our selective Senior School welcomes highly academic pupils from Year 7 to Year 13, achieving some of the highest public examination results in the country. But our focus extends beyond academics, with a strong emphasis on balance, joy and personal fulfilment. In our classrooms, corridors, and across the playing fields, you’ll find a culture of relaxed excellence – a place where students and staff are encouraged to think deeply, question boldly, and engage in spirited, respectful debate. Challenge is embraced, supported by a community that values curiosity, creativity, and care. Our teaching goes beyond the curriculum, nurturing a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. We equip pupils with the intellectual confidence and critical thinking skills to thrive at school and beyond. Life at LEH is enriched by an outstanding co-curricular programme, where girls flourish in the creative arts, on stage, in music, on the sports fields, and through countless opportunities to pursue their passions and develop new talents. Whether performing in our theatre, creating in our studios, or leading clubs and societies, pupils – and the staff who inspire them – are encouraged to explore their full potential. Joining LEH means becoming part of a vibrant, forward-looking community that values excellence, wellbeing, and the joy of lifelong learning.
LEH TEACHING STANDARDS
In order to create a culture of academic excellence and success, LEH teachers will:
Create a purposeful and challenging learning environment • H ave clear and high expectations; promote and model the ‘pupil academic expectations’ and ‘pupil pledges’
• Show care for all learners;
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Apply effective teaching strategies • Use questioning
techniques (e.g. No hands up) that encourage deeper thinking, embrace struggle and enhance the learning environment
build relationships modelling respect, empathy, professionalism and academic • Use appropriate exposition integrity (considering cognitive load); model concepts and provide Consistently use routines, examples transitions and instructions to encourage excellent • Allocate time for practice behaviour using tasks and scaffolding designed to facilitate learning Use seating plans and assign pupils for all group activities, • Establish effective routines changing them frequently such as: Think-Pair-share; See-think-wonder; Use of Consistently use the school mini-whiteboards; Posesystems for rewards and Pause-Pounce-Bounce sanctions • Be adaptive in your teaching Embrace difficulty and in response to the pupils’ celebrate mistakes as part of progress the learning journey
Plan lessons that maximise learning
• Establish clear success criteria • Plan effectively and flexibly
for the needs of all learners, providing challenge and support
• Provide opportunities for independent and collaborative work
Be aware of and promote • cross curricular links
Inspire lifelong learning • Model lifelong learning and
passion for your subject in order to deliver challenging and engaging lessons which are intellectually stimulating and inspire pupils
• Promote Fundamental British Values
• Be open to, and stay up to date with, new ideas and educational research
• Be reflective in your practice,
seeking appropriate feedback
Provide assessment and feedback that moves learning on • Use a variety of assessment
techniques to provide useful feedback and to inform planning (MS forms quizzes, mini-whiteboards, regular retrieval practice/ low stakes testing, no hands up questioning, homework tasks and whole year group assessments)
• Use available data to monitor and secure progress
• Assess your pupils’ needs; Ensure you are aware of their prior knowledge
• Offer regular comment-based feedback (both written and verbal)
Department Information For Teacher of Chemistry Science at LEH In Years 7 and 8, pupils are taught Science by one teacher, following the
School’s bespoke Key Stage 3 curriculum. Colleagues from across the Science departments contribute to the programme, giving pupils a broad and engaging introduction to Biology, Chemistry and Physics and helping them build confidence in the subject. In Year 9, pupils begin GCSE-level study, developing the knowledge, practical skills and confidence they will need at Key Stage 4. From Year 10, students follow either the Edexcel International GCSE (iGCSE) Chemistry specification or the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course, according to their pathway. In the Sixth Form, students follow the Edexcel A Level Chemistry specification. Classes are normally shared between two members of the department and usually contain no more than 14 students. This allows teachers to know their students well, offer attentive support and provide an appropriate level of academic challenge.
The Chemistry The Chemistry department is a kind, friendly and supportive team with high Department academic aspirations for its students. Colleagues work closely together, share ideas and resources, and thrive in a busy, purposeful environment where there is always plenty going on.
Our students are intelligent, curious and capable, and we encourage them to approach Chemistry with enthusiasm, participate actively in lessons, articulate their thinking and grow in confidence. They respond well to clear expectations, opportunities to explore ideas in depth and teaching that develops independent thought. Alongside preparation for public examinations, we help students consider ambitious next steps, including applications to Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science. Students are also encouraged to take part in enrichment and national competitions, including the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, the International Chemistry Olympiad, the Scientific Thinking Skills Competition and the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools’ Analyst Competition. Our focus is on nurturing curiosity, building confidence and helping every student make secure progress towards ambitious goals. The successful candidate will join a welcoming and collaborative department and teach intelligent, capable students. They will help foster enthusiasm for Chemistry, encourage active participation and support students in expressing their ideas with confidence. Students benefit from clear expectations, intellectual challenge and confident subject knowledge. The successful candidate will be encouraged to contribute their ideas and experience while working closely with colleagues to support students in fulfilling ambitious academic goals.
General Teaching Job Description •
Plan, prepare and deliver engaging, well-structured lessons in line with departmental schemes of work across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.
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Set, monitor and mark homework and classwork regularly, ensuring that departmental procedures are followed where work is missing, incomplete or submitted late.
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Prepare, administer and mark internal assessments and examinations, including the supervision and assessment of practical work required for public examinations.
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Assess, record and report on the progress, attainment and development of pupils, communicating effectively with parents through written reports and parents’ evenings.
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Provide references and supporting information for UCAS applications and other educational or professional opportunities.
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Offer guidance and advice to pupils regarding subject choices, higher education and future career pathways.
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Work collaboratively with colleagues to review and develop teaching approaches, curriculum content and schemes of work.
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Engage in professional development activities and participate fully in departmental and wholeschool training initiatives.
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Play an active part in the department’s enrichment and extra-curricular programme, helping students prepare for opportunities such as the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, the International Chemistry Olympiad and the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools’ Analyst Competition.
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Support students considering competitive university courses, including Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science, working with colleagues to provide thoughtful guidance and encouragement.
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Liaise with the Head of Department regarding academic concerns, curriculum developments and examination specifications.
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Maintain accurate records of pupil attendance, attainment and progress as required.
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Promote independent learning through the effective use of libraries, digital resources and other learning materials.
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Undertake internal examination invigilation and associated administrative duties as required.
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Maintain high standards of behaviour, discipline and pastoral care, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of pupils at all times.
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Use the School’s management information systems effectively, including behaviour and achievement monitoring systems, and work closely with pastoral staff to address any concerns relating to pupil welfare or conduct.
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Contribute to the delivery of PSHE and other cross-curricular programmes as required.
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Attend and contribute to departmental, year group, staff, parents’ and INSET meetings.
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Attend assemblies and participate fully in the wider life of the School.
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Provide cover for absent colleagues, particularly within the department, and undertake other reasonable duties as directed by the Head of Department or Senior Leadership Team.
Teacher of Chemistry Person Specification Essential
A strong academic background and a good honours degree or equivalent in Chemistry or other related subject
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Assessment via application form/ interview/lesson observation/written task Application form
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A teaching qualification e.g. PGCE The ability to teach Chemistry at KS3, KS4 and A level
Desirable
Application form Application form Lesson observation
Very good teaching, communication and interpersonal skills
✓
Lesson observation
A willingness to participate in extra-curricular activities and trips
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Interview
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Written task
Excellent written and spoken English
Interview Good ICT skills
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Application form
Efficiency and reliability
✓
Interview
Active support of the ethos and aims of the school
✓
Interview
Committed to the safeguarding and well-being of children and young people
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Interview
ABOUT LEH OUR STAFF BENEFITS
Healthcare cash plan A healthcare cash plan is provided to help with the cost of everyday health expenses such as dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments. Cycle to work scheme Take advantage of the Cycle to Work Scheme, enabling savings on bicycles and accessories while encouraging a healthier commute. Teachers’ Pension Scheme / LEH Group Pension Scheme Access to the generous Teachers’ Pension Scheme, ensuring long-term financial security in retirement. Non-teaching staff are eligible to join the LEH Group Pension Scheme, a defined contribution scheme (with life assurance) designed to support long-term financial wellbeing. Relocation assistance package Financial support is available to assist with the costs of relocating, making your move to the area as smooth as possible. School fee reduction Significant reductions in school fees are available for staff members with children enrolled at the school. LEH also has an arrangement for fee reduction for staff with children attending Hampton School.
Employee Assistance Policy A confidential Employee Assistance Programme offers free support, advice, and counselling for both personal and work-related matters. Free lunches, tea and coffee Complimentary lunches are provided daily, along with unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day. 24-acre campus with superb facilities Enjoy working in a beautiful 24-acre campus featuring modern teaching spaces, sports grounds, and tranquil outdoor areas. Free parking on site Free and secure on-site parking is available for all staff. On-site library access Staff have full access to the wellstocked on-site library for personal and professional development. Use of swimming pool Enjoy use of the school’s swimming pool at designated times, supporting health and wellbeing. Annual flu jab An annual flu vaccination is offered to staff on-site to help maintain health during flu season.
LEHSchoolOfficial @lehjuniors @LEHSchoolOfficial
BOLD BEGINNINGS START HERE
LADY ELEANOR HOLLES HANWORTH ROAD, HAMPTON, TW12 3HF personnel@lehs.org.uk T: 020 8979 1601 www.lehs.org.uk